by Lt. Wes Holzapfel, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Mass Communication
Specialist 1st Class Robert Zhan
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 1996 Hamshire
Fannett High School graduate
and Hamshire, Texas native is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies
the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.
Petty Officer 1st Class
Michael Benoit is an aviation ordnanceman with the “Airwolves” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron
(HSM) 40, a Mayport, Florida based
squadron that operates the Navy’s next generation submarine hunter and
Anti-Surface Warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk. Each helicopter is nearly
65 feet long, may weigh up to 23,500 lbs. (max gross) and can travel over 120
miles per hour for nearly 320 miles on a tank of gas.
As an aviation ordnanceman,
Benoit is responsible for building and loading of ordnance. He is
also tasked with training aircrew in small arms and delivery of weapons.
“My faith in God has made
me the person I am,” said Benoit. “Being
honest with people and doing what I say I am going to do is the reason I am the
person I am today.”
Benoit comes from a long lineage of service to the
nation.
“My grandfather served in
the Army in World War II,” said Benoit. “My
brother-in-law serves as a Navy SEAL and my other brother-in-law serves in the
Air National Guard.”
According to Navy officials, the MH-60R is the most capable
multi-mission helicopter available in the world today. It is used for a variety
of missions, including hunting and tracking enemy submarines, attacking enemy
ships, search and rescue, drug interdiction, delivering supplies and supporting
the Navy’s special operations forces.
It is replacing the Navy’s older helicopters because of its
greater versatility and more advanced weapon systems.
Benoit said they are proud to be part of a warfighting team that
readily defends America at all times.
Sailors’ jobs are
highly varied within the squadron. Approximately 297 Navy men and women are
assigned and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly. This
includes everything from maintaining helicopter airframes and engines, to
processing paperwork, handling weapons and flying the aircraft.
Serving in the Navy, Benoit is learning about being a more
respectable leader, Sailor and person through handling numerous
responsibilities.
“I like the fact that I am
able to follow in some of my family’s footsteps and am able to give back to my
country,” said Benoit. “It makes me feel
like I have done a part in making the country better.”